Improvement in artificial legs



J. E; HANGER.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Patented Feb. 14, 1871.

inventar:

-intml gieten JAMES-EDWABD HANGER, OF S'IAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

Letters Patent No. 111,741, datedFebruary 14, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL LEGS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thelax-.1.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWARD HANGER,

of Staunton, in the county of,Auguste and State ot' Virginia,haveinventd a new and improved Armicial Leg; vand I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact-descriptionthereof,.which will enable others skilled in the art to make and usethel same, reference being had to the acconil'yanying drawing formingpart of this speciication.`

. This invention relates to improvements iu the construction ofartiticial legs; and

It consists in the arrangements of the knee, ankle,-

B, and isprovided with an India-ruhher cushion, l),

which acts on the 'pad'E of part B, for arresting the forward mor-ion ofB, and softening the shock whenever the said 'parts come in contact.

The foot F is provided with a strong curved piece of wood, HG, mortis-edin at the top from the front of the heel, and rising upward into the legfor bearing against the rearpart H when the leg swings forward on thefoot as far as required, which part is provided with the India-rubberspring I, to soften the shock.

This piece is also Insed, in connection with the lifting-spring K, the`cords L, and Athe detiecting-bar M, for swinging the toes as the leg israised in walking, previous to stepping forward, the said cord beingextended np into 4thepartud/ in front ot' the knee pivotbolvt, and outthrough side holes` N, for fastening by tying aroundthe leg, where itmay he conveniently reached for adjustment from time to time, and rthedei'lecting-bar being notched int-o the inner wall of the front; of theleg, as shown at l, and e-xtcnding backwardand downward-to near the rearside, as shown, for-detlecting the spring K, to cause itto draw thepiece G, so as not to interfere with its bearing against the cushion Iwhen required, and so that the spring K will operate both the knee andankle-joints.

The'ankle-joint bolt O is attachedatl the ends in the bars P, which areiirmly riveted .to the walls ,ot' the leg, and the foot is suspendedfrom .it by the. hook- 'headed bolt Q, having an adjusting-nut, andarranged for clamping the foot, which is provided with a transversegroove in the upper side against the bolt, so that th groove forms asent for it to turn in, which seat may be closely confined against thebolt to prevent auylooseness by the zuljusting-nut and screw.

This furnishes avery pernlanent and reliable joint.

The toe R is provided behind the pivot S .with an angular point, T,which projects into a. V-groove in the front-end ofthe the foot F, forhearing in the bottom ot' said groove, as a' point of' vibration tolessen the friction as much as possible,.ti|e holt or rod V, by whichthe 'pivot S is held.; being allowed to spring up and down slightly.

" Having thus described rnyinvention, y

I claim as new and desire to secure by' Letters Patentl. The pivot C,inrear of the center rubber cushion D, pad E, and ieg B, combined asdescribed wit-h thigh A ,haring solid knee protruding within theleg-piece, all for the purpose of forming an improved knee-joint.

2. The curved wooden piece G applied to an artili'- cial leg, incombination with the spring on back part ot' leg, the lifting spring,the-deiecting-bar, and the mechanism ofthe foot, as specitied.

' 3. The combination, with .the toog, the leg, thigh,

and the bent wood-piece G, of' the spring K, oord L,

and deileeting-bar M, substantially as speci'iied.

J'AMES E. HANGER.

Witnesses:

JNO. HANGER, HENRY A. WALKER.

